Heart of Clay (The Tanner Series Book 6) Read online

  Mitch climbed into the shower and then dried and dressed. When he came down the hall, she was coming in the front door with the newspaper in her hand. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she had on a simple but lovely white cotton dress with little blue flowers on it. She had Keds blue sneakers on her feet and a smile that lit up the room.

  “Good morning sleepy head. You’ve got enough time for coffee and breakfast before you have to leave for work. Have a seat and I’ll fix you right up.”

  Instead, Mitch pulled her into an embrace and hugged her tightly.

  “Thank-you. Thank-you for last night, thank-you for letting me sleep here, thank-you for gettin’ my clothes and thank-you for fixing me breakfast. I don’t think anyone has ever treated me better Beth. You’re a doll and you should be told more often.”

  She patted him on the back and then stepped back blushing.

  “You’re more than welcome and I’m glad you slept well and feel better. Now come on and eat. You’re the first man that’s slept in my bed in six years and I’ll be damned if you’ll go to work hungry.”

  Mitch chuckled low and followed her into the kitchen. She placed a plate of ham and eggs in front of him, then added homemade biscuits. When she poured his coffee and brought his juice, his eyes twinkled.

  “I swear I love you Beth. This looks incredible. Sit with me.”

  She sat down with her own coffee and handed him the paper.

  “Mitch, can I ask you somethin’?”

  “You can ask me anything. We’ve slept together now.”

  Beth giggled and winked at him.

  “What are your plans for your pottery? You’re good. I don’t mean, roadside stand ashtray good, I mean you really have a gift. Why aren’t you doing it full-time?”

  “I appreciate the compliment, I try. The plan is to open my own gallery and do a tour with it. It takes money.”

  “That’s why you work so much. I get it now. Surely you’re getting close though, right?”

  “I’ll be there in the next four or five years I guess. I’m about twenty-thousand shy, but it’ll happen.”

  Beth froze and cocked her head.

  “Let me get this straight. If you had twenty grand, you could give it a shot? You’ve got enough stock to open a gallery and tour?”

  “I could open the gallery and put a catalogue together for sure. Word of mouth and sales would make me enough to take it on the road. Why?”

  Beth got up and came back a few minutes later with her purse. She took out her checkbook and wrote a check, then she slid it across the table.

  Skeptical but curious, he picked up the check then looked at her in shock.

  “This is a check for twenty-thousand dollars Beth. I can’t take this, are you crazy?”

  “I’m not crazy at all. I’m investing. I think you’re good enough and you work hard enough to make this happen. I believe in you Mitch. Take it and make us both rich.”

  Mitch did his best not to tear up and he studied his friend.

  “This is the kids’ college fund isn’t it?”

  Beth waved her hand and drank from her cup.

  “We’ve got years to worry about that. I’ve got a good feeling about this. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want this.”

  Mitch swallowed hard and cleared his throat.

  “I don’t know what to say. You know me, you know my history. I can’t go to the family like a beggar with his hat in his hands, I’m not those Tanners.”

  “I know that.”

  “If I lose this money, it’s gone. I’ll get it back for you as quick as I can, but it could take awhile.”

  Beth reached across the table and squeezed his hand.

  “I owe you a lot more than this. You love my kids more than their own father and you keep me company when I’m about to go insane. You’ve been a good friend to all three of us. Quit worrying and get ready to have an incredible day. You’re gonna give your notice today. Tomorrow you start working for yourself.”

  Mitch got up and walked around the table. He pulled her to her feet and gathered her up in his arms. They were both laughing hysterically and he was swinging her around in a circle. Beth couldn’t remember when she’d felt lighter or more certain of anything. No matter what happened from this point on, she knew he wouldn’t let her down.

  “Put me down you gorilla and get going to work.”

  He put her down but didn’t let go of her. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and took his first real look at her pretty green eyes.

  “My god you’re pretty.”

  “I think you’re still sleep deprived.”

  She patted his chest but didn’t push him away. He was still staring at her, almost memorizing her face.

  “Mitch, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  Mitch blinked rapidly, snapping himself out of the moment.

  “Yeah...yes...I’m fine. I’m absolutely fine. Are you okay? Are you sure about this? You really want to go into business with me?”

  “There’s no one else I would even consider this with. If there’s any other way I can help you, let me know.”

  “I will. Thank-you.”

  He still had his arms around her and she still didn’t pull away. She had her hands on his arms and her head was tilted back so that she could look him in the eye. She knew what was coming and she knew he was thinking it through. Beth decided to make it easy for him.

  “If it’s about the money or the moment, don’t do it Mitch. Please.”

  He tightened his grip, pulling her closer. He moved one hand to her face, running his thumb along her cheekbone.

  “It’s got nothing to do with money. It’s got everything to do with the moment.”

  Mitch leaned down and kissed her. It started out soft and sweet but when she moved her hands to his neck, he deepened it shocking them both. His tongue met hers and the heat that one simple meeting generated made her tremble. His grip tightened and he didn’t want to end it. She moaned and moved her tongue along his, stroking and tasting.

  The choice was clear. He either stopped now, or everything changed from this moment forward. Too many things were happening quickly and she was neck deep in all of them. He had to give them time to think.

  Mitch stopped and she sagged against him. She was breathing hard and he smiled because he knew how she felt. He kissed her forehead and she opened her eyes.

  “I don’t know what that was, but nobody has ever kissed me like that.”

  “That’s a shame Beth. That’s a rotten shame. You deserve kisses like that given on a regular basis. I wish I didn’t have to go, but I do.”

  “It’s probably for the best. We both need to clear our heads.”

  Mitch kissed her once more quickly and smiled at her. Once again, they were on the same wavelength. He let her go and she scurried into the kitchen. He was walking to the door when she rushed up to him, carrying a bag.

  “Here. It’s your lunch. I’ve got fried chicken and potato salad in there and they’re sitting on an ice pack. It should stay cold all day. There’s a thermos of coffee in there as well. Have a great day Mitch and call me later to let me know how it went.”

  “I will, I promise. Thanks Beth.”

  He leaned down as naturally as if he’d been doing it for years, and kissed her goodbye. He didn’t realize he’d done it until he was climbing into his truck. She stood at the door in her pretty dress waving him off and he smiled.

  Chapter Two

  “Hey Beth?”

  “Yeah Mitch, what’s up?”

  “Can you put the kids in the van and come down here please, I need another opinion.”

  “An opinion? An opinion on what?”

  “I found a shop that I think will work, but it’s a big decision and I don’t wanna make it alone. Could you come down here please?”

  Beth looked at the kids eating their dinner and bit her lip.

  “Where are you hon’?”

  “I’m on River Street in Savannah.”
r />   He rattled off an address and she wrote it down.

  “It’ll take me at least twenty minutes to get there Mitch, is that alright?”

  “I’ll stay as long as it takes. Thanks Beth.”

  She hung up and told the kids in simple terms what they were going to do and they lit up.

  “Mama’s gonna go and change clothes, y’all finish your dinner and use the bathroom. There won’t be any potty stops until we get there. Do you understand?”

  Two voices spoke as one around mouthfuls of food.

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  She left them to work on their dinner while she tried to do something about the way she looked.

  Beth rummaged through her closet quickly, looking for something that was nice enough to wear to a gallery in downtown Savannah. She found a white silk camisole and a pale pink linen blazer that she wore to weddings. She found her pair of pink heels that matched the blazer and then went to her dresser. She pulled out her best pair of skinny jeans and prayed she was skinny enough to get into them. She slinked them on, tucked in the camisole and added the blazer. When she stepped into the heels, the effect was complete.

  She stood in front of the mirror and wondered if her hair was too red for the pink blazer, but in the end, she realized there was no second choice. She spritzed on a bit of the expensive perfume he’d bought her and decided against makeup. She brushed her hair and used combs to pull it from her face. Not pausing to look again, she grabbed her purse and ran into the living room.

  “Kids? Are you ready?”

  Accustomed to helping their mother in any way that they could, eight-year-old Scott had cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. Six-year-old Patty had gathered her stuffed panda and was waiting at the door. The three of them went out together and climbed into the van. When everyone was buckled in, Beth turned to the kids.

  “You’re mama’s little angels, thank-you both for helping me. We’ll bake cupcakes this weekend as a special treat.”

  The children beamed at her and she grinned back. She backed out of the driveway and started for Savannah.

  Mitch was pacing back and forth chewing his thumbnail, the realtor was leaning against the counter, periodically checking her watch. She was looking at the young man in his filthy work clothes, wondering what in the world he planned to do with the lovely old building. When a blue van pulled up at the curb in front, he stopped pacing and relaxed. She stood and straightened her skirt.

  Mitch held the door open when he saw the kids leading the way and he smiled in appreciation at the lovely woman that followed. When Beth walked in, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “You look beautiful and you smell even better. It’s good to see you.”

  She smiled at him and patted his back.

  “Thank-you. It’s good to see you too. I like the location, it’s away from the other galleries and you’ll get the walkers and joggers along the river.”

  “See, I thought so too. Come here and look at this.”

  He scooped up Patty in his arms without giving it a thought and settled her on his hip. He took Beth’s hand with his other and she took Scott’s hand in her free one. They were linked as a chain of four.

  He led her to one of two rooms in the back, both large with recessed spotlights. When he flipped the switch, pools of light shown on the floor at various intervals, a pedestal in the center gathered light from three brilliant spots.

  Beth dropped his hand and walked to it slowly, then ran her hand along it’s smooth surface.

  “Oh Mitch. The blood red urn with the opalescent glaze will look stunning sitting here. Can’t you see it?”

  It was exactly what he thought and he was thrilled that someone he trusted had seen it too.

  “Should we take it? There’s another room just like this one next to it. Two small viewing rooms with the larger, main gallery in front. The offices are upstairs. There’s a bathroom upstairs and one down here in the back. It’s big but not too big.”

  Beth approached the realtor and held out her hand. The realtor shook it and plastered her professional smile on her face.

  “Mrs. Tanner, it’s nice to meet you. Did you have a question?”

  For now, Beth chose not to correct her. She looked at Mitch who was watching her closely.

  “Yes. What are the terms of the lease?”

  “One year at twelve hundred a month, renewal at the end of the year with option to purchase.”

  Beth started shaking her head and crossed her arms.

  “Two years, one thousand a month and all rent applies toward purchase if we decide to buy.”

  The realtor knew the owner and knew what would be acceptable terms. She also knew that the building was in good shape, but the owner was determined to only lease it as a gallery. He didn’t want a food vendor or souvenir store in his building.

  “Mrs. Tanner, would you mind my asking what you plan on using the space for?”

  “Mr. Tanner is an artist. We plan on using it as a gallery to display his pottery.”

  “I see. In that case, two years, eleven hundred a month with utilities included. Your rent to purchase demand is acceptable if you sign the lease tonight.”

  Mitch couldn’t believe it. She’d just made the deal of a lifetime on prime Savannah real estate without any help from him. The women were shaking hands and he was still blinking and thinking. Beth called him over and he kissed Patty on the cheek. She hugged his neck and whispered in his ear.

  “Alright sweetheart. I’ll take you myself.”

  He looked at the two women who were going over the rental agreement and making the necessary changes. His voice echoed in the empty space.

  “Ladies, I’ll be with you in a moment, my girl needs to use the facilities.”

  Beth watched as he carried her to the bathroom, then put her down. He opened the door for her and turned on the light, closing the door behind her. He waited patiently for her until the little girl opened the door.

  “Did you wash your hands?”

  “I couldn’t reach the sink.”

  “Here baby, I’ll help you. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Beth watched him take her back into the bathroom and through the open door, she heard the sound of water running. When she heard the paper towel dispenser, she smiled. He carried her back out and straight to the two women waiting.

  “There. Crisis averted. Where do you need my signature?”

  Beth pointed to the changes he needed to initial, then turned the page and showed him the line requiring his signature.

  The realtor smiled and slipped the signed lease into her briefcase. She shook both their hands and handed them each a set of keys.

  “I hope you enjoy your gallery and I wish you success. You have a lovely family.”

  Beth opened her mouth to correct her, but Mitch put his arm around her waist, quieting her.

  “Thank-you and goodnight.”

  When the door closed behind the woman, Mitch smiled down at Beth.

  “You are one tough negotiator. I was ready to sign at twelve-hundred.”

  “Glad I was here. These old buildings can be drafty. Paid utilities will save you a fortune. Just cooling it in the summer will be hideously expensive, you did good Mitch. It’s a great location and a beautiful building. The window dressing will be important so you’ll need to choose well.”

  “WE’LL need to choose well you mean. You’re not deserting me now, are you?”

  “You want me to help decorate it? Are you serious?”

  “I trust your opinion Beth. It’s your investment too. If it sinks it takes both of us with it and I don’t know about you, but I’m not up for humming that Titanic song.”

  She giggled and patted his back. When she tried to give him the extra set of keys, he stepped back with Patty.

  “Hang onto those. You may need to get in from time to time, especially in the beginning. I want you free to come and go.”

  She dropped the keys into her purse a
nd went to the back rooms to turn off the lights. When the only light present came from the streetlight shining in the window, she looked up at him and noticed he was staring at her the same way he’d stared at her that morning. Patty made a great show of whispering in his ear again, and he smiled at the little girl.

  “Good idea buttercup.”

  Mitch leaned down and kissed Beth softly, lingering a moment before he pulled back.

  “That was just because Patty and I thought it would be a good idea.”

  Her daughter was nodding furiously, her little arms around Mitch’s neck. She blushed and grinned at them both. Scott was getting restless and Mitch noticed.

  “Scott? Why don’t we treat the womenfolk to ice cream. It seems like the appropriate way to celebrate. What do you say?”

  “I’m up for it. Dawson’s is just down the street. Can we go there?”

  “Dawson’s it is. Let’s take the van. You can drop me at my truck on the way back.”

  Beth handed him the keys to the van and he locked his new gallery as he left. He pocketed the keys and walked to the driver’s side with a spring in his step. He kept thinking that the weekend couldn’t come fast enough and he still had to deal with Marla.

  Friday evening, Mitch loaded his welding gear into the back of his truck and shook hands all the way around. It was harder than he thought it would be, but the hardest part was still to come.

  He had an idea and dialed the phone.

  “Beth? What are you doin’?”

  “Absolutely nothin’. The kids are at mom and dad’s for the weekend and I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. What are you doin’?”

  “I’m sittin’ in my truck after my last day at work, looking forward to my first day at work tomorrow. I’m wondering if you might be willing to do me a favor.”

  “I appear to be free at the moment, whatcha need?”

  Mitch smiled and decided he couldn’t wait to see her.

  “Would you go by the barn and pick up the red urn and bring it down? I’ll store it in the office until we’ve got everything the way we want it, but I want it to be the first piece placed.”